Foundation construction



June 3, 1930.

n. w. WELLS FOUNDATION CONSTRUCTION Filed April 9, 1928 Patented June 3, 1930 UNITED:STATES-qPATENT?" oFricEff iioN w.V WELLS, E' Los ANGELES, oALIEoRNiA, AssIeNoRfoEfoNE-EoURTH 'fro GEORGE i, n W;fANDERsoN,-or Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ONE-FOURTH inov RAY EDGAR, AND

oNEcEoUR'iiivroy JOHN sfrEwAR'r Ross,` Borri oEELcENTRo, CALIFORNIA FOUNDATION CONSTRCTION1 Application `filed -April 9, .1928.E`Sera1fNo. QGSASI.

This invention relates to a foundation constructiomthe pu-rposefof which is to absorbearthquake shocks for other earth movements so as Vto -preventvinj ury to supported struc- 5 ture; the' invention is adaptable foi-support# ingfrigid structureslof any kind, for'eXample,` bui-ldi'n'gs,-br1dges or any other rigid structures.r f The general object of thel invenf tion is to'provide a construction which will Ylargely neutralize `the `earth 'movement and preventiinipalrting the fullforceof the shock to the supported s'tructureg-'also to provide means for resisting the' yequilibrating move! ment-which would naturallytake place as a "consequence of the displacement of the ground beneath the supportedstructure.

A further object of the invention lis to pro-l vide means-for preventing wind pressure -on the side of tliesuppoi'ted structure from causingund^ue movements init. Y Y i In f the i embodiment v Vof the invention disclosed in thezpresentspecification, the inv`ention includes a cradle' orslin'g supported on thef ground-and.V operating as a support for 251the supported structure;Y `when the earth movementoccurs this sling prevents impartingof the full forcefto the supported struc-V ture,l butthe-use of a slingfentails an equi` librating Imovement of thel sling withv the harthmovement; Vone of the objects o f this invention is to provide means-for resisting or-A dampingfthis equilbrating movement" A of `theslingso as to V4minimi-Ze lthe edects of the ground shock or movement upon the-stup- 3? fportedfstructure:

The, invention consists in the-novel parts and v combination of i partsV` to A*be described hereinafter, v rall fof which vcontribute l to npio' duce angefficient/foundation construction." 40% A. lpreferred'embodiment of the linvention is described in the Vfollowing specification whilethe broadl scope 'of the invention is pointed outin the appended claims.

VIn'fthe drawing: Y f

2 Figure @1 isa vertical section' taken atftlie` foundation of a'building and illustrating an embodiment of the invention;` this view `shows the parts in the normaly position;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but broken away2 and this view illustrates the `parts in a displaced position such as :they -would'have when aground movement such as an earthquake occurs. A

Figure 3 is a horizontal cross sectiony taken on theline 3 3 of Figure l.

wie

Figure t is a horizontal cross section taken f ontheline 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figs.- 5 and 6 are `Vertical sections illustrating modified embodiments of the invention.

edil employ a cradle or sling for supporting a rigid structure. vThis cradle is supported on a base and includes flei'rible'mem l Y v ers which preventimparting of the-full force of a shock directly through the sling to .the supported structure: 'I-Iowever, the displacement ofthe giound supports entails a slight equilibrating `movementof the sling, and means is provided for resisting this equilibrating movement..

Althoughzthe invention may be applied in Y a foundation for any rigid structure, I vshall now describe the invention asapplied to the foundation of an ordinary steel frame buildin'O.

Ieferringmoreparticularlyto Figs. l to 4 inclusive, A1 represents the rigid frame of a building. According to my invention `I support tlieiframe of this building or `rigid structure at a yplurality of'points on slings 2, each sling'orcradleoperating t-o support ya por-l tion lof the yweightof the building. In the 'case of a steel frame building this is prefer` ably accomplished by extending downward-k ly columns such as the column 3, and supporting each column on a iioating cross head- 4I which forms the lower part of the cradle 2,

the cross head being supported on exible members 5 preferably in the form of steel cables. At their upper ends these steel cables are supported upon a base 6 which may be of any suitable construction and resting upon a foundation 7 In the present instance this base may consist of four short columns or posts 8 surmounted by a cap ring 9 of square form, and this ring may be of I-beam cross section. The flexible members or cables 5 may be supported on saddle plates 10 extending over and resting on the cap ring.

The cables preferably are arranged in pairs corresponding to each saddle plate.

The cross head 4 is secured in any suitable manner to the lower end of the column 3, and this cross head preferably comprises bifurcated arms 11 so that a space is formed between the forks of each arm through which the cables pass, the lower ends of the cables being anchored in saddle plates 12 which straddle the under sides of the arms.

The lower ends of thecolumns or posts rest upon the foundation plate 13 supported on the foundation 7 i In a foundation having the features described above, it will be evident that if a lateral ground movement occurs a lateral displacement of the cap ring 9 will result. However, this will impart no direct force to the supported structure 1 by reason of the presence of the sling. In this way a large part of the effect of the shock to such a supported structure will be eliminated, enabling the building to experience such a shock Without injury. I prefer, however, to provide means for resisting the equilibrating movement of the structure which must take place as a consequence to the lateral displacement of the cap ring or base which supports the sling. In order to accomplish this I prefer to provide means for exerting damping force directly upon the building, or supported structure; if desired, I provide means also for exerting a damping force directly upon the cross head.

rThe means for resisting the equilibrating movement at the cross head preferably includes a strut member 14 which is disposed lbetween the cross head 4 and the foundation plate 13. This strut member is normally in a vertical position, but when the ground movement occurs it will assume an inclined position, the effect of which is to exert a thrust forceagainst the cross head in a direction to oppose the equilibrating movement.

vThe manner in which this strut member Y will develop this opposing force will be evident from an inspection of Fig. 2 which represents the parts in the position which they would have during an earth shock ;V this view shows the parts lin the relation they would have if the foundation had been displaced suddenly by a ground movement toward the eart 1. v v

lments of the building,

IVhen so displaced it will be evident that the sling will tend by gravity to swing toward the left, in its equilibrating movement. But this equilibrating movement will be resisted by the horizontal component of the inclined thrust force which will be exerted by the strut member 14 against the under side of the cross head 4.

The strut member 14 preferably has a flexible connection with the under side of the cross head which may consist of a socket 15 receiving the rounded nose 16 on the upper end of the strut member.

According to my invention I support the lower end of the strut member ona floating support including a weighted lever' or levers. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1 the lower end of the strut member is received in a socket member 17, the lower end of the strut member having a rounded nose 18 which cooperates with .the socket member to form a flexible connection at the lowerend of the strut member.

The ioating socket 17 is supported on a plurality of levers 19, the short arms `of which engage recesses in the sides of the socket member. These levers are supported on abutments 20 forming fulcrums. If desired, individual weights can be provided for the levers 19, but I prefer to provide a common weight 21 for them, consisting of a sleeveof heavy material. This sleeve may consist of a casting, if desired, but may be formed, if desired, of concrete with cast socket members 22 on its inner face to provide sockets for the outer ends of the long arms of the levers 19.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, at points remote from the sling 2 I provide means between the ground and the structure 1 for imparting a thrust force to the .structure to dampen the equilibrating movement of the structure which would naturally occur with the equilibrating moveient of the cross head. p

This means, in the case of a building, is preferably located under intermediate columns such as the column 23 of the building, which might be assumed totake less load than the column 3. p In applying the invention to ordinary steel buildings I would usually support the outside columns of the building on a cradlesuch as the sling 2, and provide for exerting the damping force under interior columns, which may be called equilibrating columns. f

In practice, anv combination of equilibrating columns an sling columns can be employed which will give proper support and equilibrium to the building, and which will enable` suflicient equilibrating force to be developed to damp the equilibrating move- In the present instance, under the column 23 I provide a strut member or strut column 24 in the form of a qtfthe connection points of the lower ends of suspending rods. n A

It is understoodthat the embodiment of the invention described'herein is only one of many embodiments this invention mayV take,

andHI do not wish to be limited in the practice of the invention` nor in the claims, to the articular embodiment set forth. f

`hatI claim is:

L'In Va foundation for a structure, to ab- ;'sorbf ay force developed by a lateral ground movement,y the* combination of a cradle supporting' the said structure, a base having meansy for suspending the cradle, and means for resisting the` equilibrating movement of the structure consequent to the displacement of the base when said groundmovement occurs.

2'.' In a foundation for a structure, to absorb a force developed by a lateral ground movement, the combination of a cradle having `flexible supporting'members with a cross head supported thereby, a base on the ground having ymeansV for support-ing the flexible members toward their upper ends, and means for resisting equilibrating movement of the cradle consequent to the displacement of the base when said ground movement occurs.

3.In a foundation for a structure, to absorb a force developedV by a lateral ground Ymovement, the combination of a cradle sup- Y porting the v said structure, a base having means for supporting the cradle, and a strut member operating to develop a force in a direction to oppose the equilibrating movement` .of Athe cradle consequent to the displacement ofthe base when said ground movement occurs. v

4. In a foundation for a structure, toabsorb al force developed by a lateral ground movement, the combination of a cradle supporting the said structure, a base on the ground having means for supporting the cradle anda strut member normally disposed in a substantially Vertical position and mounted so as to be displaced into an inclined position whenl the ground movement occurs, and operating to'exert a thrust force in a direction to'oppose the equilibrating movement of the cradle rconsequent-to the displacement of the base. y

5. In a foundation for a structure, to absorb a Vforce developed by a lateral ground movement, the combination of a base sup-f' ported on the Ground, a cross head, a loadearrying member supported on Athe cross head, flexible means for suspending the cross head on'the base to permit a swinging movementV of `the cross head when the ground movement occurs, and means for resistingY theequilibrating movement of the cross head consequent to the said movement of the base. 6. In a foundation for a rigid structure, to

V absorb a force developed by a lateral-ground movement, the combination of a cradle supporting the said structure, a base having means -located at a point removed laterally from the cradle for exerting a force upon the said structure to resist the equilibrating movementlof `the cradle consequent to the displacement of the base when said ground movement occurs.

7./In a foundation for to absorb a force developed by a lateral ground movement, thev combination of a cradle supporting the said structure, a base having meansfor supporting the cradle, and a strut member located at a point removed laterally from the cradle supported at its lower end on the ground and operating to exert a thrust force upon the structure in a direction to resist the equilibrating movement of thev tially vertical strut member removed lateral-y lyfrom the said cradle, having a flexible joint supporting the same on the ground, and

a flexible joint at its upper end for supporting the structure, said strut member operating to develop a thrust force against the said rigid structure to resist the equilibrating movement of the cradle consequent to the displacement of the base when said ground movement occurs.

9. In a lfoundation for a structure, to absorb a yforce developed by a lateral ground movement, the combination of a cradle, means fory supporting thecradle at its upper portion fromthe ground,said cradle having a cross head at its lower head to receive the weight vof the rigid structure, an'd a thrust member cooperating with the said cross head to develop a thrust force in a direction to resist the equilibrating movement of the cradle consequent'to the displacement of the base when said ground movement' occurs.

l0. yIna foundation for a rigid structure, to absorb a force developed by a lateral ground movement, the combination of a sling having flexible members and a cross head at their lower ends, a base having means for supporting the upper lends of the-flexible members, said cross head operating to support said rigid structure, and a strut memberlocated under theA cross head having a flexible connection therewith, and normally disposed in a substantially vertical position, said strut member operating to exert a thrust force against the cross head to resist the equilibrating movement of the cross head a 'rigid structure,

consequent to the .displacement of the base when said groundmovement occurs.

11. In a foundation for a rigid structure, toabsorb a force developed by a Lateral ground movement, the combination of a sling having flexible members and a cross head at their lower ends, a base having means for supporting the upper ends of the flexible members, said cross head Voperating to support said rigid structure, a strut member engaging the cross head, normally disposed in a substantially vertical position, means for supporting said strut member carrying a Weight, said strut member o-perating to exert a thrust force against the cross head in a 'direction to resist the equilibrating movement of the sling consequent to the displacement of the base When said ground movement occurs.

l2. In a foundation for a rigid structure, to absorb a force developedv by a lateral ground movement, the combination of a cross head supporting the rigid structure, a base supported on the ground, flexible members for supporting the cross head from the base, a weight and means connecting the same With the cross head operating to exert a force upon the cross head in a direction to resist the equilibrating movement of the cross head consequent to the displacement ofthe base When said ground movement occurs.

13. In a foundation fora rigid structure, to absorb a force developed by a lateral ground movement, the combination of a sling having a cross head and flexible members supporting the same, a base on the ground supporting the flexible members at their upper ends, a strut member normally in a substantially vertical position under the cross head, means including a leverwith a short arm supporting the said strut member and having a long arm carrying a Weight, said strut member operating to exert a thrust force against the cross head to resist the equilibrating movement of the slingconse.

quent to the displacement of the base When said ground movement occurs.

14. In a foundation for a structure, to absorb a force developed by a lateral ground movement, the combination of a cradle for supporting the said structure, a base having means for supporting the cradle, and frang1- ble means for connecting the base and the structure operating to resist stress developed by the Wind on the structure but operating to fail under the action of an earthquake.

15. In a foundation for a structure, to absorb a force developed by a lateral ground movement, the combination of a cross head supporting the said structure, a base supportedon the ground, and cables supporting the cross head from the base. v

16. In a foundation for a structure, to absorb a force developed by ay lateral ground movement, the combination of a cradle sup-v porting the said structure in a normal upright position, a base having means for supporting the cradle and operating when moved by the earth movement, to permit the structure to assume a condition of unstable e uilibrium and thereby cause an equilibrating movement in the structure under the action of gravity, returning the structure to said normal upright position, and means for resisting the said equilibrating movement of the structure.

Signed at Los Angeles, California this 29th day of March, 1928.

p DON W. WELLS.

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